His face was hard and set, his armour was covered with blood, and he had a bandage round his head instead of helmet; but he was not hurt much, as one might see by the way he came.
He grasped my hand without a word, and threw himself on the bank by the road side to get breath, and I stood by him, silent for a while.
"Heregar," he said at last, "it is well for Bridgwater town, and these here in this nunnery, that you obeyed and fought not." "Wherefore ?" I said.

"Must we fly ?" "I saw you rally the men on Cannington Hill, and that was the best thing done in all this evil day." "Then," I asked, "do they yet stand ?" "Aye; for the Danes have drawn off, and our men bar the way here." I told him what I had hoped from a charge of our levy; but he shook his head and told me that, even had our men the skill to see their advantage, the Danes had formed up again on seeing that this might be, and had gone back in good order to their first post at Combwich.
"But our levy will not bide a second fight," he said sadly.

"Already the men are making off home, in twos and threes, saying that the Danes will depart, and the like.

Tomorrow the way here will be open, for there will be no force left to Osric by the morning.

I have seen such things before." "Then must the Lady Alswythe fly," I said: "but where is Matelgar ?" "Struck down as he fled," said Wulfhere grimly.